Is new committed to the bishop of York, Q. Eliz. Till then, fair hope must hinder life's And I the rather wean me from despair, And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross; Q. Eliz. I am informed, that he comes towards To set the own once more on Henry's head: Guess thou the rest; king Edward's friends must down. But, to prevent the tyrant's violence, (For trust not him that hath once broken faith,) A Park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire. Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, Sir WILLIAM STANLEY, and others. Glo. Now, my lord Hastings, and sir William Leave off to wonder, why I drew you hither, Thus stands the case: You know, our king, my brother, Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands He shall here find his friends, with horse and men, Enter KING EDWARD, and a Huntsman. Hunt. This way, my lord; for this way lies the game. K. Edw. Nay, this way, man; see, where the huntsmen stand. Now, brother of Gloster, lord Hastings, and the rest, Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer? Glo. Brother, the time and case requireth haste; Your horse stands ready at the park corner. K. Edw. But whither shall we then? Hast. To Lynn, my lord; and ship from thence to Flanders. Glo. Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my meaning. K. Edw. Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness. Glo. But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talk. K. Edw. Huntsman, what say'st thou? wilt thou go along? Hunt. Better do so, than tarry and be hang'd. Glo. Come then, away; let's have no more ado. K. Edw. Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick's frown; And pray that I may repossess the crown. [Erevent SCENE VI. A Room in the Tower. Enter KING HENRY, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SoMERSET, young RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE, Lieutenant of the Tower, and Attendants. K. Hen. Master lieutenant, now that God and friends Have shaken Edward from the regal seat; But, if an humble prayer may prevail, I then crave pardon of your majesty. K. Hen. For what, lieutenant? for well using me? Nay, be thou sure, I'll well requite thy kindness, War. Your grace hath still been fam'd for virtuous; Clar. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway To whom the heavens, in thy nativity, Adjudg'd an olive branch, and laurel crown, As likely to be blest in peace, and war; And therefore I yield thee my free consent. War. And I choose Clarence only for protector. K. Hen. Warwick, and Clarence, give me both Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a traitor, And all his lands and goods be confiscate. Clar. What else? and that succession be determin'd. War. Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part. K. Hen. But, with the first of all your chief affairs, Let me entreat, (for I command no more,) That Margaret your queen, and my son Edward, Be sent for, to return from France with speed: For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear My joy of liberty is half eclips'd. Clar. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed. K. Hen. My lord of Somerset, what youth is that, Of whom you seem to have so tender care? Som. My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond. powers K. Hen. Come hither, England's hope: If secret Make much of him, my lords; for this is he War. What news, my friend? Mess. That Edward is escaped from your brother, And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy. War. Unsavoury news: But how made he escape? Mess. He was convey'd by Richard duke of Gloster, And the lord Hastings, who attended him In secret ambush on the forest side, And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him; For hunting was his daily exercise. War. My brother was too careless of his charge.But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide A salve for any sore that may betide. [Exeunt KING HENRY, WAR. CLAR. Lieut. and Attendants. Som. My lord, I like not of this flight of Ed- For, doubtless, Burgundy, will yield him help; Did glad my heart, with hope of this young Rich mond; and the rest; Forces. What then remains, we being thus arriv'd Glo. The gates made fast! - Brother, I like not this; For many men, that stumble at the threshold, K. Edw. Tush, man! abodements must not now affright us: By fair or foul means we must enter in, Hast. My liege, I'll knock once more, to summon them. Enter on the walls, the Mayor of York, and his brethren. May. My lords, we were forewarned of your coming, And shut the gates for safety of ourselves; K. Edw. But, master mayor, if Henry be your So 'twere not 'long of him: but, being enter'd, Re-enter the Mayor, and two Aldermen, below. But in the night, or in the time of war. For Edward will defend the town, and thee, K. Edw. Welcome, sir John! But why come you in arms? Mont. To help king Edward in his time of storm. As every loyal subject ought to do. K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery: But we now forget Our title to the crown; and only claim K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, lord Hastings, I came to serve a king, and not a duke, Drummer, strike up, and let us march away. [A march begun. K. Edw. Nay, stay, sir John, awhile; and we'll debate, Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends, And says - that once more I shall interchange By what safe means the crown may be recover'd. Mont. What talk you of debating? in few words, Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand; K. Edw. Then be it as you will: for 'tis my right, And Henry but usurps the diadem. Mont. Ay, now, my sovereign speaketh like himself; And now will I be Edward's champion. Hast. Sound, trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd: Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation. [Gives him a paper. Flourish. Sold. [Reads.] Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c. Mont And whosoe'er gainsays king Edward's right, By this I challenge him to single fight. If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness. We'll forward towards Warwick, and his mates; Enter KING HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE, MONTAGUE, EXETER, and OXFORD. War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, With hasty Germans, and blunt Hollanders, Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas, And with his troops doth march amain to London; And many giddy people flock to him. Orf. Let's levy men, and beat him back again. Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war; The knights and gentlemen to come with thee: K. Hen. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope. Clar. In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand. K. Hen. Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortuMont. Comfort, my lord; and so I take my leave. nate: Orf. And thus [kissing HENRY's hand.] I seal my truth, and bid adieu. K. Hen. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montagne, And all at once, once more a happy farewell. War. Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Co ventry. [Exeunt WAR. CLAR. OXF. and MONT. K. Hen. Here at the palace will I rest a while. Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship? Methinks, the power, that Edward hath in field, Should not be able to encounter mine. Ere. The doubt is, that he will seduce the rest. K. Hen. That's not my fear, my meed hath got me fame. I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands, [Shout within. A Lancaster! A Lancaster! Ere. Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these? Enter KING EDward, Gloster, and Soldiers. Edw. Seize on the shame-fac'd Henry, bear him hence, And once again proclaim us king of England. — Glo. Away betimes, before his forces join, ACT V Enter, upon the walls, WARWICK, the Mayor of War. Where is the post, that came from valiant How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow? War. How far off is our brother Montague? War. Say, Somerville, what says my loving son? Som. At Southam I did leave him with his forces, And do expect him here some two hours hence. [Drum heard. War. Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum. Som. It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies; The drum your honour hears, marcheth from Warwick. War. Who should that be? belike, unlook'd-for friends. The king was slily finger'd from the deck! Nay, when? strike now, or else the iron cools. K. Edw. Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair, Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster! Oxf. Som. They are at hand, and you shall quickly Will issue out again, and bid us battle: know. If not, the city, being but of small defence, [He and his Forces enter the City. Glo. Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear. Enter SOMERSET, with drum and colours. [He and his Forces enter the City. Of force enough to bid his brother battle; [Taking the red rose out of his cap. Than Jephtha s, when he sacrific'd his daughter. Than if thou never hadst deserv'd our hate. Glo. Welcome, good Clarence; this is brotherlike. War. O passing traitor, perjur'd, and unjust! K. Edw. What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town, and fight? Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears? War. Alas, I am not coop'd here for defence: I will away towards Barnet presently, If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand, Som. Ah, Warwick, Montague hath breath'd his last; And to the latest gasp, cried out for Warwick, War. Sweet rest to his soul! Fly, lords, and save yourselves; for Warwick bids K. Edw. Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads You all farewell, to meet again in heaven. [Dies Oxf. Away, away, to meet the queen's great power! [Exeunt, bearing off WARWICK's bɔdy. SCENE III. Flourish. Another Part of the Field. Enter KING EDWARD, in triumph; with CLARENCE, GLOSTER, and the rest. K. Edw. Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course, And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory. My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart | And, as we hear, march on to fight with us. shows, That I must yield my body to the earth, And, by my fall, the conquest to my foe. Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge, Have been as piercing as the mid-day sun, Lo, now my glory smear'd in dust and blood! Sam. Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as we are, Clar. A little gale will soon disperse that cloua, And blow it to the source from whence it came: Thy very beams will dry those vapours up; For every cloud engenders not a storm. Glo. The queen is valu'd thirty thousand strong, And Somerset, with Oxford, fled to her; If she have time to breathe, be well assur'd, Her faction will be full as strong as ours. K. Edw. We are advértis'd by our loving friends, That they do hold their course toward Tewksbury; We having now the best at Barnet field, Will thither straight, For willingness rids way: And, as we march, our strength will be augmented In every county as we go along. Strike up the drum; cry Courage! and away. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. — Plains near Tewksbury. March. Enter QUEEN MARGARET, PRINCE EDWARD, SOMERSET, OXFORD, and Soldiers. Q. Mar. Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss, But cheerly seek how to redress their harms. |